How affordable is Folsom vs El Dorado Hills?

Good neighbors make a great community. When people come from outside the area they are often drawn to either Folsom, or El Dorado Hills. Perhaps they have friends or family in the area and they are here to visit. Maybe on their way to Lake Tahoe they have seen the communities off the 50 freeway. Geographically the two communities sit on the border between Sacramento County and El Dorado County with a combined population of 114,000. (Folsom 72,000 & El Dorado Hills 42,000) Both communities enjoy a close proximity to Folsom Lake making it easy to get to and enjoy.

When you strip all other factors away, the price of a home is the basis of affordability. This graph represents the homes sold by price level in 2014 in Folsom and El Dorado Hills. Let’s keep it simple and agree that Folsom sells far more homes at more affordable prices, while El Dorado Hills tends to dominate the higher price points. It’s important to understand that on a per foot basis, the two communities are very similar. The per foot cost in Folsom has hovered around $210 per foot in 2014, while El Dorado Hills has been closer to $200 per foot. There is demand for both communities and those of us that live here tend to flow back and forth between them as if they were one.

EDH – Folsom | Home Sales in Units vs Price 2014

If you were looking to locate to the area I would advise that you keep an open mind. Start by taking a look at what you are able to afford by getting pre-qualified with a local lender. Look at both areas and ask yourself which community would better suit your family and lifestyle. In general, Folsom will have more to choose from at affordable prices but they will most likely be smaller. El Dorado Hills will have a better selection of larger homes but you will pay more to live there.